Motor



MaylZ, 1942. A. F. HENNl'NGl-:R Erm. 2,282,582

' MOTOR Filed Nov. 12, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheetl 1 IMaly l2, 1942. A. F. HENNINGER Erl-AL 2,282,582

MOTOR Filed Nov. 12. 1940 :s sheets-sheet 2 mlmm WMM/ww',

May 12, 1942- A. F. HENNINGER ETAL 2,282,582

' MOTOR Filed Nov. 12, 1940 3 sheets-sheet s ezln/nger companying drawings.

Patented May 12, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT t OFFICE Andrew F. HenningenrI 1);.: eorge D. Henninger,

Chi

cago, Ill.

l8 Claims. This invention relates to electric motors and is particularly directed vto a combination, direct current motor, timer and interruptor. f

The invention is adapted to be embodied in an operating unit for gaseous conduction lamps such as that shown in our Patent No. 2,217,315. When such lamps are used as trame signals, stop signs, marine beacons, aviation lights, railway signals, etc. it is necessary, in many cases, to depend upon a battery as the power source to operate the light and to operate the mechanism by which the light is flashed on and oil. Under such circumstances it is essential to economize in the use of power because of the need to obtain a long life from a battery and the need to avoid frequent servicing cf the unit.

One purpose ofthe present invention, therefore. is to provide a combination, direct current motor, timer and interrupter of high emciency which is also capable o! operating at a substantially uniform rate of speed over a wide range of'applied voltage from the battery source. It is a characteristic of dry batteries that the voltage drops substantially as the battery is exhausted.

It is a further purpose of the present invention Fig. 8 is a plan view of the device shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and to the form of device shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. the device includes a motor comprising a rotor III of soft magnet iron, two field poles Il A, and I2 also of soft magnetic iron, and a connectto provide a unit of the character above referred to in which self-starting of the motor is simply and easily obtained and which avoids entirely the use of commutators or other undesirable points of friction that cannot be properly lubricated without impairing the electrical contact.

Other and more detailed objects .and advantages of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds in connection with the ac- It is to be understood however that the drawings and description are illustrative only and are not to be taken as limit. ing the invention, except insofar as it is limited by the claims. A

In the drawings: g f

Fig. l is a plan view of a motor. interrupter and timing device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3:

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical connections of the unit;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view:l taken on the line I 'I of Fig. 6; and

through ing frame piece I3 of the same material as the poles I=I and I2. Two fieldcoils I4 and Il are wound on thepoles II and I2 and are adapted to be energized in a manner `that willl be presently explained The coils I4 and I5 are so wound that when energized one of the poles II adjacent the rotor is positive while the opposite pole I2 is negative. Asshown best in Fig. 4. the upper ends of the poles II and I2 are provided with notches I6 .and II, respectively, which notches are cut to conform to and fit closely upon the path of rotation of the rotor Ill.

The rotor I0 as shown is made up of a -plurality of laminations which are cut to provide four poles Il, I9, 20 and` 2|. the laminations being hollowed out between the poles. This rotor is carried by a shaft 22 which extends down into an oil-filled receptacle 23 and is supported upon a ball 24, the ball 24 being adjustable within the mounting of the rotor lIII that it is accurately positioned with respect to the poles II and l2 and is free from any binding strain in its bearings due to the-fact that all of the positioning and securing is made through the single plate 2l. The plate 26 is spacedvfrom the plate I3 by a plurality of posts 2B, 29 and 30. Ihe plate 26 supportsanother plate 3i substantially semi-circular in shape. there being three posts 32, 33 and 34 provided for thispurpose. 'I'he function of the plate v3| is to support a reduction gearing unit 3B which cooperates with a pinion 36 on the shaft 22 to rotate a timer cam Il. In order to control the positioning of the rotor III with respect to the poles II and I2 so that when these poles are energized the rotor will be started, there is provided an interrupter unit Il embodying a permanent magnet 39 which isl positioned to attract one of the poles I8, I 9, 20 or 2l.

It will be noted from Figs. 3 and 4 that the interrupter unit is carried by a bracket 40 which is mounted for movement radially toward and away from the rotor I9 by means of screws 4I upon the plate 28. The bracket 45 carries a strip 42 which is cut out as shown at 43 to permit passage of the magnet 89. The strip 42 at its' upper end carries an adjustable stationary contact 44. A terminal plate 45 is provided in contact with the lower end oi.' the strip 42 for electrical connection. s

Spaced from the terminal plate 45 and insulated therefrom is a spring strip 48 to which is riveted or otherwise mounted a supporting arm 41 for the permanent magnet 39. This supporting arm also has a movable contact portion v48 having contacts 49 and 50. The contact 50 is adapted to engage the stationary contact 44 while the contact 49 is adapted to engage another adjustable stationary contact I that is carried by a strip 52. The strip 52 is connected to a terminal strip 53. The whole assembly just described is supported from the bracket 49 being clamped thereon by two screws 54 and 55 (see Fig. 2)

The permanent magnet 39 is of a long life material preferably of the stock sold under the trade name Alnico in order to obtain maximum magnetic attraction to the rotor with the least weight. The contacts 49 and 50 and their cooperating contact faces on the adjustable contacts 44 and 5I are preferably made of platinum although tungsten or si1ver contacts may also be used. It is essential however to have contacts that will stand up without difficulty for a long period of time. The use to whichthis device is intended to be put requires operation free of contact difficulties for a long period without attention.

Referring now to the control cam 31, this cam is preferably constructed of insulating material and is adapted to engage a roller 55 which is mounted upon an arm 51. The arm 51 is a spring arm and carries a contact 58 preferably of platinum, tungsten or silver at its free end. The arm 51 is supported upon an upstanding ear 59 of the plate 3l and insulated from this ear by a suitable means such as indicated at 58 in Fig. 1. The arm 51 has a wiring terminal 6I extending beyond the fixed end thereof. A contact spring 52 is mounted on an ear 53 of the plate 3| and has a contact 54 like the contact 58 and adapted to engage therewith as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Figs. 6, '1 and 8, there is shown a modified form of the invention wherein the rotor I0 is mounted upon a shaft 22'. The shaft 22 however in this case is journalled in ball bearings 65 and 85 which are carried by two non-magnetic frame plates 51 and 58. The shaft 22 in this form carries a pinion 59 meshing with a large gear 10 which in turn drives a cam 31' which is adapted to perform the same function as the cam 91 in the main formof the invention.

'I'he details of the contactarms 51 and 52 and their associated contacts 59 and 54 are not shown in this form of the invention since. they are duplicates of those shown in connection with the main form. These contact arms and contact elements are carried by two brackets 1I and 12 which are mounted on the plate 51.

In this form of the invention the poles I I' and I2' are built up of U-shaped laminations of soft magnetic iron which are mounted upon suitable posts 13, 14 'and 15 carried by the plate 58. The rotor I0 has the same number of poles as the rotor I0 and these poles are adapted to cooperate with the poles Il' and I2 to impart rotation to the rotor. A permanent magnet 99. similar in all respects to the magnet 89, is mounted upon a spring arm *41' which in turn is carried by a bracket 15 on the plate 58. 'I'he magnet carrying arm has"a contact carrying portion 11 projecting beyond the permanent' magnet and extending at an angle of about 30 'degrees to the plane ofthe arm 41' which carries the permanent magnet. Two contact supporting arms 18 and- 19 support stationary contacts 99 and 9| in parallelism with the arm portion 11. .The arms 18 and 19 are supported from plate51 by suitable. supporting means indicated generally by the numeral 82. The details of this mounting 82' are in general similar to those by which the bracket 40 supports the several elements thereon and it is believed unnecessary to further describe them. The contact arm 11 has contacts 93 and 84 thereon cooperating with the stationary contacts 85 and 8i.

The reason for setting the contacts at an angle of 30 degrees is to prevent the metal from building up as the contacts are operated and to .give to them a slight wiping action. It is obvious that the normal vibration of the arm 41' will cause the contacts 83 and 84 to wipe over their respective stationary contacts a slight amount so that the contacts will always remain bright and clear of worn metal particles.

Referring now to Fig. 5, theapparatus hereinbefore described is shown diagrammatically with the necessary electrical connections to a source of current `comprising a battery B and to a current consumption device comprising a lamp L of the type shown in our patent hereinbefore mentioned. Current is supplied from one side of the battery to the terminal 48a of the spring 45 which in turn carries the arm '41 which supports the permanent magnet 39. The other side of the battery B is connected through the coils I4 and I5 to the terminal 45 and thus to the Acontact 44 through the strip 42. For sake of clearness in the diagrammatic drawing the contact 44 only is shown as connected to the line from the battery through the coils I4 and I5. With the magnet 39 attracted by the rotor I5 a circuit is closed from one side of the battery through the coils I4 and I5 to the other side of the battery under control of the contacts 44 and 58. The poles II and I2 then attract the armature and rotate it in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 5 so as to carry it far enough to move the pole of the rotor thatformerly was attracted by the magnet 39 substantially out of the field of attraction of the magnet. The inertia of the rotor will of course carry it somewhat beyond the position to align two opposite poles of the rotor between the poles II and I2. The spring 46 is therefore free to retract the magnet and does so, separating the contact 50 from the contact 44 and engaging the contact 49 with` the contact 5I. Separating the contacts 44 and 50 breaks the circuit for the is connected across the lamp L.

As the rotor In continues to turn it brings another pole in position to be attracted by the magnet 39 and this causes the arm 41 to break the contacts 49, 5I and close th'e contacts 44. 50. The result is that the coils I4 and I5 are again energized and the circuit of the primary coil I5 is opened. The arm 41 thus functions to successively'energize the coils I4 and Il and tointerrupt the current through theprimary coil 85 sopas to set up an alternating current in the secondary coil 81.

When the motor is rotated sufficiently to cause the cam 31 to break the contacts 58 and 64 the lamp L will of course be de-energized until such time as the contacts 58 and 64 are again allowed to close. It is possible, by properly timing the opening and closing of the contacts t have the contacts 58 and 64 open 'at a time when no cur` rent is passing through said contact; that is, at a time when the contacts 49 and 5I are separated and the contacts 44 and 50 are closed.

The speed of the motor can be varied depending upon the vibration rate of the arm 41 and its spring 46, the spacing between the contact points and the weight of the magnet attached to the arm 41. The vibration of the arm 41 also exerts a governing action so that the motor speed is maintained fairly constant over a considerable variation in battery voltage. When the arm 41 is vibrating rapidly the contacts 44 and 50 are closed for a shorter period of time thus permitting less current to iiow into the field coils I4 and I5 which then exert less electromagnetic attraction, due to their failure to fully saturate the poles II and I2. When the voltage becomes lower as the battery becomes exhausted there is not such a great tendency for the rotor to move fast. This permits the permanent magnet to retain the contacts 44 and 50 in closed position longer, thus more nearly approaching saturation of the poles II and I2. The device is to this extent somewhat self-regulating as to speed through wide variations of battery voltage and load on the motor. It will be apparent that a load tending to slow down the rotor will have the same effect as less energization due to lower battery voltage.

The` wiring diagram shown in Fig. 5 is merely one example of the way in which a transformer 86 may be energized from a battery B which is also operating the motor. It will be noted that the current drain on the battery is not continuous but is only during those periods when contact is completed eitherl through the contacts ill and 44 or through the contacts- 49 and 5I. 'I'he life of the battery may thus be lengthened by maintaining the periods of contact as low as possible for successful operation.

The timing of the flashing of the lamp L' by the cam 31 may of course be varied over a wide range merely by utilizing cams of different contour.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and operation of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art.

Having thus described our invention, what we cialm as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the' character described, comprising the combination with a motor structure having a rotor and a field provided with cooperating poles, of means to intermittently energize the eld from a direct current source and to provide self-regulation of the motor as to speed meansl comprising a spring mounted arm, a' magnet supported by said arm in position to attract a pole of the rotor and pull the rotor into position to be started by the field poles upon energization of the field, said arm also carrying a circuit closing contact adapted to move into engagement with a stationary contact and close the circuit for said field when the magnet is attracted by a rotor pole, and a stationary contact serving to limit the approach of the magnet to the rotor.

2. Apparatus' of the character described, comprising the combination with a motor structure having a rotor and a field provided with cooperating poles, of means to ,intermittently energize the field from a direct current source and to provide self-regulation of the motor as to speed over a wide range of voltage for said source, said means comprising a spring mounted arm, a magnet supported by said arm in position toattract a pole of the rotor and pull the rotor into posiy tion to be started by the field poles upon energization of the field, said arm also carrying a circuit closing contact adapted to move into engagement with a stationary contact and close the circuit for said field when the magnet .is attracted by a rotor pole, and a stationary contact serving to limit the approach of the magnet to the rotor, said rotor having a supporting shaft and a -bearing for said shaft comprising a receptacle sus pended from a point adjacent said rotor and having a ball on which the end of the shaft rests.

3. Apparatus of the character described, comprising the combination with a motor structure having a rotor and a field provided with cooperating poles, of means to intermittently energize the field from a direct current'source and to provide self-regulation of the motor as to speed over a wide rangeof voltage for said source, said means comprising a spring 4mounted arm, a magnet supported by said arm in position to attract a pole of the rotor and pull the rotor into position to be started by the field poles upon energization of the field, said arm also carrying a circuit closing contact adapted to move into engagement with a stationary contact and close the circuit for said field when the magnet is attracted by a rotor pole, a stationary contact serving to limit the approach of the magnet to the rotor, and means for moving the stationary contact. e

4. Apparatus of the character described, comprising the combination with a motor structure having a rotor and a field provided with cooperating poles, of means to intermittently energize the field from a direct current source and to provide self-regulation of the motor as to speed over a wide range of voltage for said source, said means comprising a spring mounted arm, a magover a wide range of voltage for said source, said net supported by said arm in position to attract a pole of the rotor and pull the rotor into position to be started by the field poles upon energization of the field, said arm also carrying a circuit closing contact adapted kto move into engagement with a stationary contact and close the circuit for said field when the magnet is attracted by a rotor pole, a stationary contact positioned toengage the arm contact when the magnet is attracted, said arm being movable radially of the rotor when the magnet is attracted by a rotor pole.

5. Apparatus of the character described, comprising the combination with a motor structure having a rotor and a field provided with cooperating poles, of means to intermittently energize the field from a direct current source and to provide self-regulation of the motor as to speed over 4 'assauts pole of the rotor 'and pull the rotor into position 7 g to be started by the neld poles upon energization o! the neid, and circuit control means operable by movement of saidl arm in response to the at- Atraction between the magnet and a rotor pole to close an energizing circuit for said neld when the pole is closest to the magnet, said arm being movable radially o! the rotor in response to the magnet-rotor attraction for each other.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination with a motor structure having a rotor and a neld provided with cooperating poles. of means to intermittently energize the field from a direct current source and to provide self-regulation oi the motor as to speed over a wide range of voltage for said source. .said means comprising a spring mounted arm, a permanent magnet supported by said arm in position to attract a pole of the rotor and pull the rotor into position to be started by the field poles upon energization of the iield, said arm also carrying a circuit closing contact adapted to move into engagement with a stationary contact and close rthe circuit for said field when the magnet is attracted by a rotor pole, a stationary contact serving to limit the approach of the magnet to the rotor, said arm and stationary contact being movable together radially of the rotor to vary the distance of the permanent magnet from the rotor.

7. Apparatus of the character described, comprising the combination with a motor structure having a rotor and a iield provided with cooperating poles, ot means to intermittently energize the field from a direct current source and to provide self-regulation of the motor as to speed over a wide range ot voltage for said source, said means comprising a spring mounted arm, a permanent magnet supported by said arm in position to attract a pole of the rotor and vpull the rotor into position to be started by the field poles upon energiaation oi' the neld, said arm also carrying a circuit closing contact adapted to move into engagement with a stationary contact and close the circuit for said ileld when the -magnet is attracted by a rotor pole, and a stationary contact serving to limit the approach of the magnet to the rotor. said contacts being set at an angle to the direction of movement o! ttilizt-sarm to create a wiping action of the con- 8. pparatus of the cgaracter described, comprising the combination with a motor structure l*having a rotor and a field provided with cooperating poles, ot means to intermittently energize the iieid from a direct current source and to provide self-regulation of the motor as to speed over a wide range oi' voltage for said source.

said means comprising a spring mounted arm, a permanent magnet supported by said arm in po- 'sitionito attract a vpole oi the rotor and pull the rotor into position to be started by the field poles upon energization of the field, said arm also carrying a circuit closing contact adapted to move into engagement with a stationary contact and close the circuit for said field when the magnet is attracted by a rotor pole. a stationary contact serving to limit the approach of the magnet to the rotor. said contacts being set at an angle to the direction of movement of the arm to create a wiping action of the contacts. and means to shift said arm radially of the rotor.

ANDREW F, HENN'INGER. GEORGE D. HENNINGER. 

